Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

Elizabeth had already made her mark as a poet when she commenced a correspondence with an aspiring poet called Robert Browning. She had spent much of her life locked away from the world to guard her health, protected by her father who forbade the marriage of any of his children.

When Elizabeth fled her confinement and eloped with Browning, there was gossip that Browning wanted her only for her wealth and fame, and her father never spoke to her again. However, the gossips were wrong. Elizabeth and Robert’s love endured until her death, in Florence, in 1861 and both poets gained inspiration from each other, thus producing some of the best of English poetry.

Elizabeth’s life story was immortalised in the film ‘The Barretts of Wimpole Street’. Take a look at some stills from the film, or rent it out and learn more about these much cherished poets

How do I love thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely,as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

in my old griefs, and with my childhood faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

with my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

smiles, tears, of all my life; and if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

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Read a poem by Robert Browning